Neurology

Neurology is a specialty focused on the diagnosis and treatment of various diseases of the brain, spinal cord, and nervous system. A specialist in this field is called a neurologist. Neurology adopts an approach that collaborates with many medical branches to address all patient needs.

Patients diagnosed with brain tumors during examinations are usually referred to the neurosurgery department for surgical intervention. There are connections between neurology and ophthalmology. The specialty that diagnoses and treats these conditions is neuro-ophthalmology.

Neurological diseases are directly related to the nervous structures in the human body; therefore, it is important not to delay the diagnosis process. Neurological problems can be life-threatening, and delays may cause permanent damage.

A Life Health Group’s Neurology Department usually completes all patient tests on the same day. This ensures a rapid transition to the diagnosis process. This fast and effective approach allows patients to continue their treatment in the best possible way.

Conditions such as headaches, dizziness, stroke, changes in consciousness, and epilepsy are treated by neurology specialists. Numbness or muscle weakness in the hands and feet is also examined by these specialists.

Neurologists manage patients' symptoms and apply various treatment methods to improve their quality of life.

Neurology deals with a wide range of diseases and conditions. Some of these include:

Cerebrovascular diseases are medically referred to as cerebrovascular disorders. The term “cerebro” represents the majority of the brain, while “vascular” refers to arteries and blood vessels.

Ischemia and hemorrhage cause problems in one or more blood vessels of the brain.

• Stroke: Brain damage caused by interruption of blood flow to the brain or brain hemorrhage.
• Brain aneurysm: Weakening and ballooning of a blood vessel in the brain.

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders characterized by the gradual deterioration and loss of neurons in the nervous system. This condition usually progresses over time. Neuron loss can lead to impairments in motor, cognitive, and behavioral functions.

Some of the most well-known neurodegenerative diseases include:

• Alzheimer’s disease: A type of dementia causing memory loss and deterioration in other cognitive functions.
• Parkinson’s disease: A movement disorder causing slowed movements, tremors, and muscle stiffness.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): A disease resulting from damage to the protective sheath around nerve fibers in the brain and spinal cord.
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A progressive neurological disease causing muscle weakness and paralysis.
• Huntington’s Disease: A genetic disorder leading to motor dysfunction and cognitive decline. It typically begins in middle age and progresses over time.

Nerve and muscle diseases are various disorders affecting the nervous system and muscle tissue, impacting the body's ability to move. These diseases can cause problems such as muscle weakness, loss of coordination, tremors, or immobility.

Nerve diseases affect different components of the nervous system. Examples include:

• Peripheral Neuropathy: Caused by damage to peripheral nerves, symptoms may include numbness, burning, or pain sensations.
• Multiple Sclerosis (MS): An autoimmune disease of the central nervous system, presenting with symptoms like muscle weakness, balance problems, and vision loss.
• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): A severe disease affecting motor neurons, resulting in muscle weakness and paralysis.
• Parkinson’s Disease: Characterized by the loss of dopamine-producing cells in the brain, affecting movement with symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, and slowed movements.

Muscle diseases primarily affect muscle tissue. Examples include:

• Muscular Dystrophies: Genetic disorders causing progressive weakening and deterioration of muscle tissue; the most well-known type is Duchenne muscular dystrophy.
• Myasthenia Gravis: An autoimmune disease affecting communication between nerves and muscles, causing muscle weakness and fatigue.
• Polymyositis: Characterized by muscle inflammation and resulting muscle weakness.

Demyelinating diseases are disorders that affect the central and peripheral nervous systems. The myelin sheath is a tissue composed of lipids and proteins that increases the signal transmission speed of nerve cells. It is essential for the proper function of the nervous system.

The most common of these diseases is Multiple Sclerosis (MS), which typically occurs in young adults.

Sleep disorders highlight the importance of sleep, which affects about one-third of human life. Sleep is essential for the rest and recovery of the body and brain.

Insomnia can trigger many health problems and lead to diseases. It especially causes issues such as loss of motivation and lack of concentration in work life, negatively impacting quality of life.

Common problems like sleep apnea and restless legs syndrome should be diagnosed by neurology specialists.

Sleep apnea, characterized by snoring and pauses in breathing during sleep, can cause serious health issues. Obesity, high blood pressure, diabetes, heart attack, and stroke are among these complications.

Definitive diagnosis is made through a sleep test called polysomnography (PSG).

• Insomnia: Difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.
• Sleep apnea: Cessation of breathing during sleep.
• Restless legs syndrome: Uncomfortable sensations in the legs, accompanied by an urge to move them.

Epilepsy is a neurological condition commonly known as "sara" or "seizure" among the public. This disease occurs due to abnormal brain activity.

It can sometimes cause loss of consciousness along with drowsiness. Epilepsy is the disruption of brain functions caused by excessive excitation of nerve cells.

It may cause abnormal muscle contractions in the body. This disease can occur at any age. Factors such as increased body temperature, head injuries, infectious diseases, intense stress, and chronic sleep deprivation can contribute to its occurrence.

Headache is a health problem caused by pain-sensitive structures located in the human head.

These structures include cranial nerves, arteries, and veins. The scalp, neck muscles, and superficial nerves are also present.

There are sinuses in the head region that provide ventilation and resonance. The external auditory canal, which transmits sound, is also present. The eardrum, which detects vibrations, is found here as well.

The eyeballs protect the visual organs. Salivary glands assist in digestion. Teeth break down food. The jaw joint enables jaw movements. These parts are important components of this region.

• Migraine: A type of headache characterized by throbbing pain, nausea, and sensitivity to light and sound.
• Tension-type headache: A common pain manifested by a feeling of pressure or tightness around the head.
• Cluster headache: A type of headache characterized by severe pain around the eye area.

Dementia, commonly known as "bunama" among the public, is a disease that results from the deterioration of cognitive functions in the brain. Dementia, which begins with forgetfulness at a young age, makes performing daily tasks difficult as age progresses.

This condition can make the person dependent on care. However, it is important not to confuse cognitive changes due to aging with dementia symptoms. Slow learning processes and minor forgetfulness that come with aging should not be considered symptoms of dementia.

Vertigo is a condition that causes a person to feel as if they or their surroundings are spinning. It is often misidentified as dizziness, but vertigo is a more specific balance disorder. It is usually associated with problems occurring in the inner ear, brain, or nervous system.

The neurological examination is an important process to evaluate the condition of a patient with a neurological disease. The first step of this process is taking the patient's neurological history. A successful history is crucial for an accurate diagnosis.

These symptoms indicate an increase in pressure and volume inside the skull. This condition may be a sign of a brain hemorrhage. Therefore, a detailed and accurate evaluation of the patient's history is vital for early diagnosis.

The diagnosis and treatment process of neurological diseases is supported by significant contributions from advanced laboratory and imaging methods.

Methods such as computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), angiography, and color Doppler are used for diagnosis. These methods are important after the neurological examination.

In diseases such as epilepsy and other consciousness disorders, awake and sleep EEG (electroencephalography) tests are of great importance. These tests are conducted in the EEG laboratory within the neurology department of our hospital.

Certain tests are performed at the neurology department's sleep and sleep disorders center. These tests include polysomnography, home sleep testing, and multiple sleep latency test (MSLT).

Among the methods used in the diagnosis and treatment of neurological diseases, there is a wide range. The main methods applied in our neurology departments are as follows:

• Brain CT
• Brain MRI
• Brain Angiography
• Color Doppler
• Electroencephalography (EEG)
• Electromyography (EMG)
• Visual Evoked Potentials (VEP)
• Somatosensory Evoked Potentials (SEP)
• Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEP)
• Lumbar Puncture
• Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)
• Polysomnography (Sleep Test)
• Home Sleep Test
• Multiple Sleep Latency Test (MSLT)
• Dizziness and Balance Tests

Thanks to these tests and imaging methods, brain and nervous system diseases can be diagnosed more quickly and accurately. This comprehensive approach ensures effective treatment of patients.